Book 125: The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton and Book Stats.

Title: The Age of Innocence
Author: Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

First Published: 1920

My Edition: Barnes and Noble Classic (seen at right)

Pages: 308 (I own the paper version and a copy on my NookColor, so I will probably switch back and forth).

Other Works Include:The Touchstone (1900), The House of Mirth (1905), Ethan Frome (1911), The Reef (1912), The Custom of the Country (1913), Summer (1917), The Glimpses of the Moon (1922), Old New York (1924), The Gods Arrive (1932), and The Buccaneers (1938)

I was having some difficulty decided on a title to read for book 125. 125 is half of 250, so therefore this book is my halfway point book. Then my husband suggested a pick a few titles and have my readers select the next one. And since Wharton is a favorite of mine, I decided to pick this one as an option.

Secretly, I'm really glad you all voted for this one. I adore Wharton. I know that she can be an acquired taste for some-what with her discussions on society and all-but I love her writing style. Love it. And this is one of the few Wharton titles I haven't read yet! I know!

I have some high expectations for this novel. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921, making Edith Wharton the first woman to win the award. THAT is high praise people! I have been saving this one for years, but it seems appropriate to read it now, as a kind of celebration for how far I've come on my little journey. Off I go!

If you are curious, here are the posts for the other Wharton books I have read for this project so far:

Ethan Frome: Book 16 (back before I did my intro posts for books)

• On Ethan Frome
  
• Finished
  

The Glimpses of the Moon: Book 51

• Book Stats
• Finished.
  

Book 51: Finished.

In my earlier post on Wharton's The Glimpses of the Moon, I talked about how I really do love and admire Wharton's writing. She always manages to capture my heart in a way that many other writers can't. And while this is certainly not my favorite Wharton (again, that honor goes to The House of Mirth), I enjoyed this novel on its second reading far more than I did on the first.

I think a large part of why I enjoyed it so much more is that I have gained a little life perspective since my first reading a couple of years ago. In the novel, Nick and Susy are on the fringes of society. Both of them do not come from money, but have wealthy friends who aid them along. Both Nick and Susy benefit from these friends. Susy is given old dresses from a season or two prior, and gets to go along on trips and excursions without paying anything. Nick attends dinners and trips with men.

Their paths cross again and again before they come to a decision to marry. Their marriage will bring them both benefits. As a pair, they will be invited to the "couples" events. Their two-year honeymoon can be spent traveling from vacation home to vacation home of their friends and reaping the benefits. This is how the novel begins.

It is clear from the beginning that Nick and Susy are meant for each other. They understand one another and care for each other, but make a pact that if anything better comes along, they will let the other go. Obviously, fate intervenes in their happiness and they part for a time.

Where do I fit into all of this? Since the first time I have read it, I have gotten married. And while Matt and I were dating and together for 7 1/2 years before we were married, since being with him and living with him, I have learned far more about him and his personality. And where we are not in a position like Nick and Susy, I can understand the trials and missteps that you can take in your first months and year of marriage. That is where the similarities end, but I can understand the anger and frustration of Nick, Susy, and their lack of fortune.

Don't we all wish we had just a little more to be comfortable?

I suppose the main reason I fell a little more in love with this novel is the whole idea that sometimes what you believe you want is not what you need, or what is best for you. At a certain point, Nick and Susy break apart (not really a spoiler, I promise). Both of them want "something" to be "better" and "accepted." But is that really what is needed?

I am at a point in my own life where I am approaching the third year after I have graduated with my teaching certificate, and still no job. At this point in my life I have to tell myself, "I want a teaching job, but is it really what I am meant to do?" Wharton's work simply reiterated that and helped me see (even further than what I have), that perhaps I am not "supposed" to be teaching and that the answer may already be in front of me.

It seems a rather deep interpretation of a novel based on society and Wharton's personal dislike for that kind of monetary status, but it is what I pulled from these wonderful 250 pages of Wharton awesomeness.

I leave you now with a small taste;

"The idea that he might be in the same place with her at that very moment, and without her knowing it, was so strange and painful that she felt a violent revolt of all her strong and joy-loving youth. Why should she go on suffering so unbearably, so abjectly, so miserably? If only she could see him, hear his voice, even hear him say again such cruel and humiliating words as he had spoken on that dreadful day in Venice when that would be better than this blankness, this utter and final exclusion from his life! He had been cruel to her, unimaginably cruel: hard, arrogant, unjust; and had been so, perhaps, deliberately, because he already wanted to be free. But she was ready to face even that possibility, to humble herself still farther than he had humbled her--she was ready to do anything, if only she might see him once again," (224).

Book 51: The Glimpses of the Moon and Book Stats.

Title: The Glimpses of the Moon

Author: Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

First Published: 1922

My Edition: Signet Classic

Pages: 250

Other Works Include: The Touchstone (1900), The House of Mirth (1905), Ethan Frome (1911), The Reef (1912), The Custom of the Country (1913), Summer (1917), The Age of Innocence (1920), Old New York (1924), The Gods Arrive (1932), and The Buccaneers (1938)

Anyone who has been following and reading for awhile knows that Wharton is one of my all time favorite writers. I was forced into reading her work back in high school and she became a close friend in my college years. Her writing soothes me and there is such a variety that I can always find something to sink my teeth into.

Her novels are by far her strength. While I enjoy her short stories, I am more of a novel person anyway. She creates realistic and tortuous situations for her characters and develops them in a way that is so incredibly enthralling.

Anyway, The Glimpses of the Moon is a novel I have read once before, so it should be like visiting an old friend. The story is a little more light-hearted than some of her other works. Nick and Susy Lansing marry after realizing that together they can improve their social standing. Both of them travel with the rich and beg some favors, but together, they can advance more. But, they both agree that if something better should come along for either one of them, the other will let them go. Interesting premise, right?

I will say, from my previous reads, that this is not one of my favorite Wharton pieces. I prefer her gloomier stuff, but this is every bit as fun and juicy as say...The Custom of the Country.

I will also be reading the following as part of this challenge: The Age of Innocence and The House of Mirth. I already read and finished Ethan Frome and if you click on that link, it'll take you to my favorite post about that book.

Weekly Wrap-up: June 27, 2010.

This has been yet another crazy week. I came out on Friday night absolutely exhausted from working 9 days in a row and having a few nights of restless sleep. I also was super busy on my two nights off dealing with the kittens we took in on Wednesday.

Both of them are adjusting well and seem to be bonding with both of our cats. Hemi, who is 3, was the last to come around. She really isn't a big fan of other animals on her turf, but she took to the kittens in only 2 days, which was a lot quicker than she did when we brought Sparty home. She is still a little wary, but its fun to watch her watching the kittens.

Sparty is in his glory. He is 6 months old now, so he almost full grown. But he is loving the fact that he has two new playmates to wrestle with and chase.

The first night the kittens were here was kind of horrible. Both of them were dehydrated and starving in addition to having fleas. Matt's sister Sarah, who is a vet tech, came over to check them out and confirmed that they were both girls. She helped me wash them and get rid of their fleas...which was a horrible experience. I have never felt so bad for an animal before. Especially the gray kitten, who was far more infested.

Since then, they have become more comfortable with us and even affectionate. However, when you reach out for one, they bolt, leading me to believe they were abused, which breaks my heart. But they are very comfortable with us now and love to cuddle.

The tiger looking one we have named "Lou," in honor of the guy who found her. Lou was originally going to keep her, but has asked us to find her a good home. She is super playful and pretty spunky. She actually reminds us a lot of Sparty when he was a little smaller. So, if you know of anyone in Southeast Michigan who would love to take her in, we are still looking for a good home for her!

The little gray one took my heart the moment I saw her, so we decided to keep her. After this, I don't think we can take in any more. And even though we love Lou just as much, we just can't keep both in our apartment.

I decided I wanted a literary name for her (to contrast Hemi and Sparty), and Matt shot down some of my other choices, so we decided on Lily, after the character Lily Bart in one of my all time favorite novels The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. She is a super sweet little kitten and I am love with her adorable little face.

But no more pets until we have a bigger place!

Anyway, moving on from the kittens, I have been feeling super under the weather the last few days. I spend almost all day today, except going to see Toy Story 3, in bed sleeping. I haven't felt like doing much, so our apartment is a huge mess as well. I am hoping I am not seriously ill, but I think it might be mono. One of the girls at work came down with it a month ago and a week before that we shared a drink at the bar. I have some of the symptoms so I am waiting to see what happens.

In reading news, I didn't get much accomplished. I was having a hard time getting into a few of the books I was reading, so I gave up and went on to a Wharton novel the same night we decided to keep Lily. I'm in the middle of The Glimpses of the Moon and loving it. I just wish I had more energy for reading!

I don't have big plans for this week except to get through The Inferno, but if I don't feel better, that might not happen.

Happy Reading!